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Saturday, 21 June 2014

LLANRHYSTUD AND ABERARTH

The coast running south from Aberystwyth is characterised by high cliffs and
it is not until the cliff walker has tramped for 7 miles that there is an
opportunity to descend to the sea, where steps go down to the beach at Morfa
Bychan.Further south again is the village of Llanrhystud, where a stream divides the
shingle and sand beaches.The church of St Rhystud, for whom the village is
named, is a Grade II listed building surrounded by a conservation area.St Rhystud was a 6th century missionary who
chose this spot for the foundation of a religious settlement.It is hard to imagine now, but the village
saw some considerable action during the 12th century, when there was a castle
built there known at the time as Castell Cadwaladr, and also other fortified
sites nearby.

I have passed through Aberarth several times while travelling up and down
the main coast road fringing Cardigan Bay.It looks picturesque, but due to its
diminutive size it is a question of 'blink and you miss it'.In fact the village was popular as a seaside
retreat in Victorian times; retiring sea captains occupied most of the bigger
houses in the village in those days.Going back in time to the 12th century, the village was a seaport used
by Cistercian monks to import Bath Stone from Bristol.The stone was transported inland to a site near Tregaron for the
building of Strata Florida Abbey.Economic activity in the village on the part of the Cistercians included
the milling of corn and fishing by means of fish traps which can still be seen
at low tide.Later, in the 19th century,
the village was a centre for shipbuilding.The village church has a Norman tower, but most of the present-day
building dates from 1860.A mile or so
inland from the village is the Derwen International Welsh Cob Centre, a stud
which rears some of the most versatile and beautiful horses on Earth.

About Me

I grew up in West Cornwall, and this has left me with an enduring love of the sea. That's me with the sun hat on a family outing to the beach.
The British coast is one of the most varied of any country in the world, and I aim to share it with you through this blog. I intend to blog my way around the entire British coastline, visiting seaside resorts, the best places to view British birds, and much much more, so why don't you come along for the ride. If you like this blog, why not take a look at my sister blog, Britain On Page And Screen.